UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas, drawing added firepower from a debuting Eya Laure, blasted Technological Institute of the Philippines 25-11, 25-9, 25-11 to notch its third straight win and close in on a semis berth in Pool B of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan last Sunday.
Laure scored eight points in two sets, upstaging sister EJ, who finished with just a marker while trying to regain her form coming off a long hiatus due to injury.
The rest of the Tigresses more than made up for EJ’s struggle as Joyce Abueg matched Eya’s output and Imee Hernandez put in a seven-hit effort for the España-based squad, which poured in 36 attack points and pounced on their rivals’ sloppy service reception to deliver 11 aces.
UST shoots for No. 4 against FEU next Sunday.
“We need to secure another win to assure our stint in the semis,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes.
“But this win gives us a good shot for the top two.”
While UST kept its run going, TIP fell to its third straight defeat and out of the semis race.
Wielyn Margallo and Ashley Jinon scored seven points apiece for the Lady Engineers.
In Pool A action, the Lady Falcons also soared to their third straight win as they demolished the hapless San Sebastian College Lady Stags 25-18, 25-10, 25-14 to force a tie with the idle Ateneo Lady Eagles in Season 3 of the event organized by Sports Vision serving as part of the participating teams’ buildup for their respective collegiate leagues.
